t
thrive
Living at MIT
- SpotlightPoliciesContact UsFast Help!
HomeGraduate & FamilyUndergraduateOff-CampusOther Services
-


Parking

Parking is a major problem in the Boston/Cambridge area. The parking situation where you live will probably determine the feasibility of keeping a car in the area. Parking regulations and availability vary widely in the Boston metropolitan area. The parking situation on campus and in nearby communities will be outlined briefly below, with greater detail provided in the individual area profiles.

* On-Campus Parking
  * Residential Parking Permits
  * Overnight Street Parking

A. On-Campus Parking
http://web.mit.edu/parking/

An MIT Parking Permit is required for any vehicle parked on campus. If you have questions about parking or out of state registration, please contact the MIT Parking and Transportation Office located in building W20-022.

Street parking in the vicinity of MIT is scarce. Parking along Memorial Drive is free, but to find a spot near the main buildings you need to arrive close to 7am. Two-hour metered spots are available on Massachusetts Avenue. Parking along Massachusetts Avenue means regular trips to pay the parking meter. Night and weekend parking on campus is generally not difficult to locate.

As in any urban area, there are precautions that should be taken with regard to auto theft and personal safety in the parking lots and garages on campus. Contact Campus Police for their Crime Prevention Unit's auto theft prevention and personal safety materials. If you are alone and travelling on foot to one of these areas after dark, take advantage of the Campus Police Escort service described later.

B. Residential Parking Permits

On-street parking is not permitted without a residential parking permit in the Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Fenway/Kenmore, Cambridge, Somerville and much of Allston/Brighton. This makes on-street student parking in these areas difficult, if not impossible.

In order to obtain a residential parking permit, you must fulfill the following basic requirements:

  1. Have your car registered in Massachusetts in the neighborhood in which you are applying for a residential permit. You must therefore have Massachusetts license plates and Massachusetts car insurance (which is notoriously costly when compared to other areas).

  2. You must provide proof of residency. This includes having your car registered at the address in the neighborhood to which you are applying for a permit and bringing another bona fide proof of residency, such as a lease, phone or utility bill which lists the same address.

  3. You must have no unpaid parking or traffic tickets.

Unless you are willing and able to fulfill the above requirements, you will be unable to obtain a residential parking sticker for these areas. In some neighborhoods, there will be adequate off-street parking available but in others the only other option would be to rent space in a private lot or garage.

For information concerning the registration of your motor vehicle in Massachusetts, contact:

  • The Registry of Motor Vehicles
    630 Washington St.
    Boston, MA 02114
    (617)351-4500: General Information
    (617)727-3723: License Information
    www.massrmv.com
    Hours:
    9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: Mon/Tues/Wed/Fri
    9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.: Thurs

The Registry of Motor Vehicles in Boston is located on the MBTA Orange Line at the Chinatown stop.

There are branch offices in various communities. Check to see if one is located near your home through their web site. Most transactions can now be done online.

For information concerning residential parking permits, contact:

C. Overnight Street Parking

The towns of Arlington, Belmont, and Brookline, while not requiring residential parking permits, do not allow overnight street parking. Therefore, if there is no off-street parking available, a parking space must be rented, at the cost of approximately $50.00-$150.00 per month.


Top of Page